Somewhere far away, over Naples Bay, I heard a quaint lover's story, Its magic thrill holds a spell on me still, It's a story old, and that's been sadly told Down by the shore in the moonlight How love began for a girl and a man.

'Twas on the Isle of Capri that I found her, Beneath the shade of an old walnut tree. Oh, I can still see the flowers blooming 'round her, Where we met on the Isle of Capri.

She was as sweet as the rose of the dawning But somehow fate hadn't meant her for me. And tho' I sailed with the tide in the morning, Still my heart's on the Isle of Capri.

Summertime was nearly over, Blue Italian skies above, I said, "Lady, I'm a rover, Can you spare a sweet word of love?" She whispered softly, " 'Tis best not to linger." Then as I kissed her hand I could see She wore a plain golden ring on her finger, 'Twas goodbye to the Isle of Capri.

I can just remember this song being popular, a few years before WWii. My mother sang it to me in my very early childhood. It was recorded by, among others, the great Gracie Fields, who famously lived on the Isle.

Here is a really nice rendition by one Al Bowlly (course the only other rendition I've ever heard is my mother's!). For those not familiar with the melody. Note that Mr Bowlly has dispensed with the intro.

Similarity of waltz tempo & rhythm; but no great similarity in the actual notes. As I have frequently pointed out, ballad airs are conventional: you can sing any ballad to the tune of any other. The same is true of songs in similar dance tempo as here. But no great similarity that I can hear humming the actual tunes. If you could get the two on sheet music, I think you would find the notation quite different.

And I can't see quite what verbal congruence you claim to find between the two quatrains you quote, mayo.

Sheet music from 1934 gives two verses, and only the first line of the first verse matches what is given above. Copyright laws make me loth to post these lyrics myself, but sometimes eBay listings include surprisingly complete sets of photos.

The verse given above is very, though not exactly, like what Gracie Fields sang. (She also sang the chorus from the third person perspective.) I'm curious where it came from.